Ultra-Thin Capacitive Pseudo-Palate for Wireless Tongue Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electropalatography (EPG) devices are bulky, inflexible, require wires for data transmission, have limited sensing resolution, and are costly, limiting their adoption and effectiveness in speech and neurological disorder diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A thin, flexible pseudo-palate with capacitive sensing capabilities for tongue proximity, contact, and pressure, integrated with wireless communication and high channel count, allowing real-time data visualization without wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional EPG devices use thick rigid construction with metal electrodes, then sensing capability is achieved, but wearing comfort deteriorates and natural pronunciation is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional thick rigid metal electrode construction with thin flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) technology, creating a pseudo-palate that is both thin and flexible while maintaining electrode functionality. This resolves the contradiction by enabling sensing capability through flexible thin-film electrodes rather than rigid metal constructs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes traditional resistive sensing mechanisms with capacitive sensing technology, eliminating the need for direct physical contact between metal electrodes and tongue tissue. This replacement maintains sensing reliability while dramatically improving comfort and natural speech production.
2Measurement precision
If EPG devices integrate multiple sensing methods, then measurement thoroughness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional capacitive sensing system that simultaneously performs proximity detection, contact detection, and pressure measurement through a single integrated sensor array on the FPCB. This universal sensing approach achieves thorough measurement capability without requiring separate sensing systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures multiple parameters (proximity, contact, pressure) by detecting changes in a single physical quantity - capacitance. By monitoring capacitance variations under different tongue positions and forces, the system derives multiple sensing information from one fundamental measurement mechanism, avoiding the complexity of integrating multiple independent sensing technologies.
3Measurement precision
If EPG devices use high channel count for high resolution, then tongue movement detection precision improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional resistive sensor arrays with capacitive sensing technology implemented through standard FPCB fabrication processes. This substitution enables high channel count sensor arrays to be manufactured using conventional flexible circuit board techniques, significantly reducing production costs while maintaining high spatial resolution for tongue movement detection.
4Ease of operation
If EPG devices use wireless communication, then patient mobility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates wireless communication functionality directly into the pseudo-palate device by incorporating a wireless module and power management circuitry onto the FPCB substrate. This merging of communication and sensing functions into a single integrated platform enables wireless operation without requiring separate external equipment, thus improving patient mobility while controlling overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ultra-thin, flexible design minimizes speech interference, provides high-resolution tongue movement mapping, and enables cost-effective, wireless, real-time data analysis for improved diagnosis of speech and neurological disorders.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive sensing of tongue proximity to, tongue contact with, and tongue pressure against a hard palate
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a pseudo-palate for capacitive sensing of tongue proximity to, contact with, and pressure against a subject's hard palate, the pseudo-palate comprising an upper and a lower plurality of tracing lines; wherein the upper and lower pluralities of tracing lines are embedded in a flexible material and separated by gap comprising the flexible material; wherein the upper and the lower pluralities of tracing lines are connected by vias located at a plurality of intersection points; and wherein, when the pseudo-palate is worn by the subject, the upper plurality of tracing lines is closer to the hard palate than is the lower plurality of tracing lines. The pseudo-palate is under 30 μm thick to reduce interference of the pseudo-palate with the subject's speech and communicates wirelessly with a computer to monitor data in real time. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the pseudo-palate.